Conflicting Goals Among Syrian Opposition Diasporic Community Leaders: Peace Leadership and Intragroup Conflict Transformation

Abstract

Abstract I aim to explore intragroup conflicts among the Syrian opposition diasporic community leaders (SODCLs) and the potential of peace interventions that might enhance peace leadership in this community. I asked: what are the topical, relational, identity, and process conflict goals among Syrian opposition diaspora community leaders? What type of conflict transformation interventions might help Syrian opposition diasporic community leaders improve their capacity to transform conflicts and serve as peace leaders? I have employed the content analysis method to conduct qualitative research and collected my data from published online databases. Also, I have used the Facebook wall posts of SODCLs, as a study sample, to enhance the credibility of my findings. My research confirms the utility of the topic, relationship, identity, and process (TRIP) model of Hocker and Wilmot (2017) and expands its scope of use to include the analysis of ethnic intragroup conflicts. I find that changing the identity of the Syrian state is the manifest topic and identity goal among the SODCLs. This dispute also includes latent issues such as the meaning of freedom and equality, representation in political and social organizations, and access to resources. Relations among SODCLs are built on domination rather than cooperation and are mostly established on being anti-Assad only, which is an insufficient base for alliances. I conclude that community leaders working with peace interveners may achieve conflict transformation through shift-thinking about conflict narratives and potential resolutions as well as viewing each grievance as a unique and important human experience. I also find that nonviolence is key to successful peace talks, and understanding the culture, religion, identity, and communication styles of disputants contribute to the formation of peaceful leadership. Keywords: intragroup conflicts, conflict transformation, Islamists, secularists, Arabs, Kurds, identity, Syria, peace leaders